In Dreams He Came by Trina Lane

Today’s guest Trina Lane strikes a personal chord for me. She set In Dreams He Came at UC Berkeley, my alma mater. I still live in the Bay Area and can’t envision moving. This book goes to the top of my own TBR list, and I can’t wait to see how she brings such a special place to life!

In Dreams He Came is at the heart a romantic character story. The inspiration for the story came from the image that would later become the cover. The young man lying with his head in his lover’s lap had such a peaceful expression on his face that I began to imagine what his daydream was about. Did he dream often or was this a one time thing? How did his daily life affect his dreams? Slowly different facets of Gabe’s personality began to coalesce in my mind. A young man on the verge of adulthood, but still searching for who he was. Someone loyal to his friends and family. A man who dreams of love regardless of those who tell him it’s nothing but a fantasy. Gabe is a unique mixture of someone whose drive for success is as deeply rooted as his desire to find the man of his dreams. So who could I come up with that would be the perfect match for Gabe? Enter Nick Jackson. A man whose drive for success has led him to Olympic Gold, but has yet to find a partner he can spoil with all the love and affection he has to hide from the world on the harsh professional swim circuit.

 

I chose San Francisco as the location for the book for several reasons. First of all I love the city, and have always wanted to place a story there. But, also because I wanted to use a collegiate setting. The University of California Berkley offered me a location that is rich in athletic history in addition to being a well respected academic institution. Plus it has a beautiful campus which was really easy to write scenes around. J

 

One thing that I always try to incorporate into my stories is individuals with full lives. No man is an island in real life, and I think it’s important to surround our characters with family and friends who are critical to their life stories. I feel this gives readers another glimpse into what makes our characters the people they are. So who could I dream up that would be the perfect companion to Gabe? How about an artist with a passion for all things life. A man whose vibrant personality is nearly opposite introverted Gabe. Someone who could balance out Gabe’s seriousness with fun and vitality. A best bud who present to the world a flippant attitude, but would do anything for his best friend. A man name Phil Alcorn.

 

So now I had my characters. The hard part was over right? Tell that to my eyes that spent countless hours researching campus life at CAL, course content for history majors, the world of elite swimming, and watching footage of professional swim meets so I could get the feel and technique done just right. I laugh now but I remember one night I even used my photographers’ ephemeris to get the angle of the setting sun on the buildings of the CALs campus perfect for a scene. Yeah I freely admit I’m a bit of a research junkie. I may write fiction, but I also want my stories to feel as the characters and their lives are real enough that a reader can imagine they do exist.

 

One thing I often get asked about when people mention In Dreams He Came was why I used such a profuse amount of sweet endearments. So here’s my chance to tell you. It goes back to the characters. When Nick saves Gabe from a sticky situation in a club and Phil crowns Nick as Gabe’s knight in shining armor the nickname sticks. Which really is perfect considering Gabe’s romantic nature as well as his love for history. Their first explosive kiss makes it clear that Nick quickly becomes just as enamoured with Gabe. So what’s a good knight without a lord to serve? Hence Gabe becomes Nick’s sweet prince. Now I could have used the nicknames a couple times and left it at that, but Nick and Gabe wouldn’t let me. You see to them the terms of endearment are more than monikers, they represent the heart of their relationship as they continue to fall in love. When it came to Gabe and Phil’s nicknames for each other they came from the duo’s favourite movie and the characters that matched their personalities the best. The two reserve the use for those times when something important to their friendship is under discussion. Almost as if by using the names it’s a cue for the other to really listen and think about what’s being said.

 

So now you know a fraction of my thoughts when I wrote In Dreams He Came. If this post has inspired you to read the book, I’m glad. And, if you’ve already read it I hope you’ve enjoyed a little more insight into the characters who hopefully captured your heart. I love hearing from readers so feel free leave a comment or pop by my website to send me a message.

 

With a very active imagination and passion for all things history, University of California senior and veteran on the swim team Gabriel Mason often finds himself traveling to distant lands and times. There’s always one constant in Gabe’s dreams: a nameless man whose love completes Gabe’s soul. Gabe is waiting for someone special in his “real” life as well, and his best friend Phil is determined to find Gabe his elusive knight in shining armor.

Blurb:
Nick Jackson, a university alum and Olympic swimming champion, immediately recognizes the quiet young man from the swim team and convinces Gabe to give them a chance at building something special. Considering the palpable attraction between them, Nick surprises himself by quickly agreeing to take their budding relationship slow. Unfortunately, real life is not a fantasy, and Nick’s demanding schedule as a professional athlete and Gabe’s obligations to the swim team and his degree make finding time to spend together difficult.

 

Have the two men found everlasting love, or will it all prove to be just another dream?

Happy Reading!

 

Trina Lane
Unleashing Your Deepest Desires
Come Visit www.trinalane.com